Elephant Hotel
Elephant Hotel | |
 Elephant Hotel in 2007 | |
| Location | 335 Route 202, Somers, NY |
|---|---|
| Nearest city | Peekskill |
| Coordinates | 41°19′41″N 73°41′8″W / 41.32806°N 73.68556°W |
| Area | 1.67 acres (0.68 ha)[2] |
| Built | 1820-1825 |
| Architect | Hachaliah Bailey |
| Part of | Somers Hamlet Historic District (ID04000349) |
| NRHP reference No. | 74001323 and 05000462[1] |
| Significant dates | |
| Added to NRHP | August 7, 1974[1] |
| Designated NHL | April 5, 2005[3] |
The Elephant Hotel is a National Historic Landmark located in Somers, New York, a town in Westchester County, New York, United States. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) on August 7, 1974 as Somers Town House and designated a National Historic Landmark in 2005 as Elephant Hotel.[1] It is also a contributing property in the NRHP-listed Somers Hamlet Historic District.
History
The Elephant Hotel was built in Somers NY by Hachaliah Bailey known as the creator of Barnum Bailey Circus.[citation needed]
The Elephant Hotel was established by Hachaliah Bailey after he bought an African Elephant, which he named "Old Bet". Bailey intended to use the elephant for farm work but the number of people it attracted caused Bailey to take her throughout the northeast. Bailey's success caused numerous others to tour with exotic animals, and during the 1830s the old style circus and Bailey's attractions merged to form the modern circus. Due to this, Somers is known as the "Cradle of the American Circus."
Old Bet was killed on tour in 1827, when she was shot by a local farmer. It is also said that Old Bet was buried in front of this building. Bailey later erected the Elephant Hotel in Somers in honor of Old Bet, and it was purchased by the town in 1927. It is a town landmark and was dedicated a National Historic Landmark in 2005.[2][3]
The Elephant Hotel is currently the Somers Town Hall. It is located at 335 US 202, across from the northern end of NY 100.
The NRHP listing is described in its NRHP nomination document.[4]
Museum of the Early American Circus
The Somers Historical Society occupies the third floor of the building. The Society operates the Museum of the Early American Circus, which is open on Thursday afternoons and for special holidays.
See also
- List of National Historic Landmarks in New York
- National Register of Historic Places listings in northern Westchester County, New York
References
- ^ a b c "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. March 13, 2009.
- ^ a b Neil Larsen (2005). "National Historic Landmark Nomination: Elephant Hotel" (pdf). National Park Service.
{{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires|journal=(help) - ^ a b "Elephant Hotel". National Historic Landmark summary listing. National Park Service. Retrieved 2007-09-11.
- ^ Lynn Beebe Weaver (December 1973). "NRHP Inventory-Nomination: Somers Town House / Elephant Hotel". New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation. and Accompanying photo, exterior
External links
Media related to Elephant Hotel at Wikimedia Commons- Elephant Hotel history - Somers Historical Society
- Historic American Buildings Survey (HABS) No. NY-4-101, "Elephant Hotel, State Route 116 Vicinity, Somers, Westchester County, New York", 5 photos, 12 measured drawings, 7 data pages, supplemental material
- Museum of the Early American Circus - Somers Historical Society
- Individually listed contributing properties to historic districts on the National Register in New York
- City and town halls in New York
- Hotels in New York
- National Historic Landmarks in New York
- National Register of Historic Places in Westchester County, New York
- Hotel buildings completed in 1825
- Buildings and structures in Westchester County, New York
- Museums in Westchester County, New York
- Circus museums in the United States
- Historical society museums in New York
- Historic American Buildings Survey in New York
- Historic district contributing properties in New York
- Somers, New York